Warner Bros. Discovery may have made what they believe was a wise business decision by scrapping Batgirl, but it's one that's led to a huge amount of backlash online. DC Comics fans are livid that one of the few movies they actually have to look forward to has been axed, especially when it was set to put the spotlight on a character who has been sorely underutilized on screen.
Later today, the studio will hold its quarterly earnings call, and we anticipate an explanation and some clarification on the DC Extended Universe's future then. It may not be good news, of course, and this Batgirl update from Deadline is likely to further incense fans.
The trade explains that the movie was scrapped now because the recent acquisition of Warner Bros. by Discovery allows them to take advantage of a "purchase accounting" manoeuvre that allows them to not have to carry the past losses on its books as they attempt to find $3 billion in what's described as "cost-saving synergies."
Batgirl's budget did balloon from $70 million to $90 million thanks to reshoots and the pandemic, but insiders reveal that cancelling the movie only stands to save Warner Bros. $15 million - $20 million. That's hardly a dent on that $3 billion, but with sweeping changes about to be made to HBO Max (it may join DC Universe in the streaming service graveyard imminently), the movie clearly didn't fit into future small screen plans.
We also know CEO David Zaslav felt it wasn't good enough for theaters (he obviously skipped most of the DC slate since Man of Steel), so things are slowly starting to add up.
Fans have started campaigning to #SaveBatgirl, but by writing it off as part of those tax breaks, Warner Bros. can't legally monetize the movie in any way. That makes any sort of release not just unlikely, but outside the realm of possibility at this stage.
Perhaps it will be leaked online? Failing that, we'd be shocked if the screenplay doesn't eventually surface!
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